Fluid control device



May l0, 1932. F. A. NEMEC FLUID' CONTROL DEVICE filed July 18, 1930 INVENTOR. f". H. NE /VE C ATTORNEY.

Patented May l0, 1 932 UNITED sTATi-:s

PATENT vOFFICE.`

FRED A.. NEMEC, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Application led July 18, 1930. Serial No. 468,906.

. 10 ticles in the iuid to seek the center of the.

stream.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device vof theclass described wherein the How bean may be easily and quickly re- 15 moved.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through my improved uid control device.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Fi 1.

Igig. 3 is a similar view showing the device 25 in a position to remove the How bean.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 1 -,4; of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the device similar to Fig. 1 showing a 30 modified installation of the flow bean.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have indicated my improved iuid control device generally at l0. This device may be used to restrict 'the iow in any type of Huid conducting system but it is particularly adapted for use in combination with an oil well to .restrict the fiow from the well. As shown, the device comprises a body 12 externally threaded ateach end as at 13 for securing it to pipesv 14 of a iiuid conducting system.

Intermediate the length `ot i the body y tapered aperture .15 arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and extending from the aperture 15 to each end'of the body I provide apertures 16 which are coaxial with the longitudinal axis .of the body. The apertures 16 `increase indiameter yfrom their inner ends towards the end of the. body.

arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and 90 from the axis of the aperture 15 I provide apertures 17 which communicate with the aperture 15, and include threaded portions 17 by means of which closure plugs 17 b may7 be secured in position.' At the reduced end ofthe aperture 15 I provide a sleeve 18 integral with the body and at the large end of the aperture 15 I pro- .vide a boss 19 which is internally threaded 60' as at 20.

Positionedin the aperture 15 I provide a tapered plug 21 which at the enlarged end includes a recess 22 and at the reduced end is provided with a reduced polygonal' wrench g5 engaging portion 23 which is confined within the sleeve 18.

Positioned in an annular recess 15 in the wall of the aperture 15 and surrounding the plug 21 adjacent the small end thereofI pro- 7o vide a packing member 23. Extending through the plug 21 at right angles to the axis thereof I provide a tapered bore 24. For limiting the rotation of the plug 21 to a 90 turn I provide thereon a set screw 25 which 75' operates in a recessed portion 26 in `the sleeve 18 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In one extreme position of the plug 21 the set screw engages the shoulder at one end of the recess 26 and in the other extreme position 80 of the plug the set screw engages the shoulder at the opposite end of the recess. For insert- 111g and removing the set screw 25 I provide an aperture 27 in the sleeve 18 which communicates with the recess 26. 8c

Positioned in the tapered bore 24 of the plug 21 I provide a similarly tapered flow ean 28 which includes a coaxial bore 29 which is flared outwardly toward each end from a reduced intermediate portion. Interl00 medlate the length of the low bean I' provide an annular recess 30 in the'outer surface thereof in which I position a collar v31 made of a resilient material such as a good grade of rubber. 9 Normally the external diameter of the collar 31 is larger than the external diameter of the bean 28 so that when the bean is positioned in 'the plug bore 24 the collar 31 is M For closing the large end ofthe aperture I provide a ca 32..which includes a reduced externally t readed portion 33 which engages the threads of the boss 19. The cap 32 is provided with a. threaded aperture 4 34 in which the threaded shank of a bolt is positioned. The inner end of the bolt shank is adapted to engage the plug 21 and retain it in tight engagement with the surface of the aperture 15 and to prevent accidental movement of the bolt 35 I provide a lock nut 36. On the inner face of the cap 32 I provide a recess 37 and positioned in the recess 37 and surrounding the bolt 35 I provide a coiled spring 38, one end of which engages the cap 32 and the opposite end engages the plug 21. It will thus be seen that when the bolt 35 is moved out of engagement with the plug 21 the spring 38 resilientl-y retains the plug in tight engagement With the surface of the body bore 15.

For locking the plug 21 in an open posi- A tion I lprovide aligned apertures 39 in the is in the sleeve 18 and an aperture 40 inthe wrench engaging portion 23 of the plug in which one arm of the shackle 41 of a padlock 42' may be positioned as shown inFig. 1.

For lubricating the plug 21y I provide a one-way grease fitting 43 which communicates with the space between the cap 32 and the plug 21 by means of an aperture 44. The plug 21 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal bores 45 which open into the space etween the end of the plug and the cap and a lural'ity of apertures 46 which' open throug the outer face of the plug and communicate with the longitudinal bores 45 (see Fig. 2). Thus it will' be seen that grease forced into the space between the cap and the plug will be forced through the longitudinal apertures 45 of theplugand then vout through the apertures 46.

When the device 10 is operatively installed in a fluid s stem the flow through the device irection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 and the device is preferably locked in this position. As the iuid flows through the device the fluid stream is constricted as it passes through the entrance aperture 16 and then still further constricted as it passes through the bean 28 which latter constriction acts to maintain a predetermined pressure inthe conduit in front of the device.

As fluid containing solid articles such as sand passes through the devlce the constricting o the uid stream in the entrance aperture 16 tends to cause the solids to move toward the center of the stream, whereupon they will not Contact with the surface of the entrance aperture 16 or the bean bore 29.

When it is desired to remove a bean and replace it with another the lock 42 is removed, the lock nut 36 loosened andthe bolt 35 moved out 'of engagement with the plug 21.

A wrench is then put on the wrench engaging portion 23 and the ig. 3 wherein the vplug bore 24 is coaxial with the bores 17 in the body. The operator then removes the closure plugs 17, inserts a tool through the bore 17 and drives the bean 28 out of the plug bore 24 and replaces it with a new bean, replaces the plugs 17 b and turns the plug 21 to its initial position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bolt 35 is then moved into engagement with the plug 21, the lock nut 36 tightened, and the lock 42 replaced. When the plug 21 is turned to remove the bean 28 the plug stops the ilow of fluid through the device.

When the device is used to restrict the flow of an oil well no harm will result from the stopping of the iiow of fluid for the few seconds it requires to replace a bean but in systems where the fluid pressure cannot be backed up in advance of the device the fluid can be by-passed through another one of the devices 10 by providing suitable conduits and valves.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of installation of a flow bean which is adapted to be used in connection with a fluid system, wherein it is required to retain the orifice through the flow bean as nearly as possible The collar 52 l1ke the collar 31 of the bean 28 1s in a compressed state when the bushing Y 50 is positioned in the bore 24 of the plug.

-The bushing 50 is rovided with a tapered bore 53 which is pre erably flared outwardly at each end and in which I provide a tapered flow bean-54. This flow bean includes a bore 55 which is flared outwardly toward each.

end from a reduced intermediate portion. Intermediate the length of the bean 54 I provide an annular recess 56 in the outer surface thereof in which I position a collar 57 made of a resilient material such as a good rade of rubber which like the collar 31 of t e bean ,28 is in a compressed state when the bean is positioned in the bore 53 of the bushing 50.

In using the installation shown in Flg. 5, when the .bore in the ow bean wears and becomes too large it only necessary to replace the small ilow bean 54 instead of a larger and more expensive one.

From the foregoing description it Will be apparent that I have provided a novel fluid control device which is simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a'fluid control device, a body having a transverse tapered aperture and alongitudinal aperture on eachA side of said tapered aperture, said longitudinal aperture being flared outwardly, a tapered plugin said ta- 5 pered aperture, a cap for the large end of said tapered aperture, a plurality of means to urge said plug to its seat, said plug having a tapered bore, a flow'bean removably mounted in said tapered bore, means to releasably lock said lug against rotation when said bean is in ow position, said body having an` aperture therein, sa1d last mentioned aper-v ture being disposed adjacent said bean when the latter is in closed position whereby vsaid bean may be replaced without removing said device from a iow line.

2. In a iuid control device, a body-having a transverse tapered aperture and a longitudinal aperture ,on each side of said tapered aperture, said longitudinal apertures being fiared outwardly, a tapered plug positioned in said tapered aperture, the large end of said tapered aperture including a threaded portion, a cap, said cap including a threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of said tapered aperture, said cap having a threaded aperture therein, a bolt positioned in said threaded'cap aperture, said bolt engaging said plug to force said plu into' engagement with the surface of sai tapered aperture, 'a lock nutv on said bolt, a coiled spring interposed between said cap and said ug, said spring surrounding said bolt and ing adapted toresiliently urge said lug into engagement with the surface of sai tapered aperture, said plug having a tapered bore, sa1d bore in one position of said plug being adapted to align with said longitudinal body lapertures and a tapered flow bean positioned in said tapered bore, a bore through said iiow bean, said bore being flared outwardly from an intermediate point towards each end.

3. In a Huid control device, a body having a transverse tapered aperture and a longitudinal aperture on each side of said ta ered aperture, said longitudinal apertures being iared outwardly, a tapered plug ositioned in said tapered aperture, a cap c osin the large end of said tapered aperture, sai ca having a` threaded aperture therein, a bo t positioned insaid threaded cap aperture, said bolt engaging said lug to force said lug into engagement witli the surface ofsai'd) tapered aperture, a lock nut on said bolt, and other mea-ns to urge said plug into engagement with the surface of said tapered aperture, said plug having a tapered bore, said bore in one position of said plug being adapted-to align with said longitudinal body apertures, atapered ow bean positioned in said tapered bore, a bore through said How bean, said bore bein flared outwardly. from an in termediate o1nt towards each end, an annulargroove 1n the outer surface of said flow" lthreade beanintermediate the length thereof, a resilient packing collar positioned in said groove, said collar normally being of greater diameter Lthan the outside diameter of said flow bean and means to lock said plug against rotation.

4.V In a fluid control device, a body'liavingl a transverse tapered aperture and a longitudinalaperature on each side of said ta ered aperture, said longitudinal aperture eing flared outwardly a tapered plug positioned in said tapered aperture, a cap closing the largeen'd of said tapered aperture, said cap .plug having a tapered bore, said bore in one position of said plug being adapted to align with said longitudinal body apertures, atapered fiow bean positioned in said tapered bore, a bore through said fiow bean, said iow -bean bore being flared outwardly from an intermediate point towards each end, an annular groove in the outer surface of said flow bean intermediate the len th thereof; a resilient packing collar positlone'd in said groove, said collar normally being of greater diameter than the outside diameter of said fiow bean, a collar integral with said body and surrounding the small end of said ta- Y pered body aperture, a wrench engaging portion on sa1d plug, said wrench engagmg portion being within said collar, means to limit the movement of said plug, said collar having aligned apertures, said wrench engaging portion having an aperture, said last aperture in one position of said plug being adapted to ali with said collar apertures and a padloc having a' shackle positioned in said wrench engaging portion a erture and said collar apertures to lock sai plug in a fixed position. V

5. In a fluid control device, a body having a transverse tapered aperture anda longi-l tudinal aperture on each side of said ta ered aperture, said longitudinal a ertures hein Haredoutwardly, a tapered p ug positione in saidtapered aperture, the large end of said tapered aperture including a threaded portion, a cap, said cap includin a threaded i portion engaging the threade portion of said t-aered aperture, said cap having a aperture therein, aV bolt positioned in said threaded cap aperture,said bolt engaging said plug to force said plu` into engagement w1th the surface of sai aperture, a lock nut on said bolt, a coiled spring interposed between said ca and said plug, said spring surrounding sai bolt and eing adapted to resiliently urge said lug into engagement with'the surface of 'sai tatapered red aperture, said plug having a tapered re, said bore in one position of said plug being adapted to align with said longitudinal body apertures, a tapered ow bean positioned in said tapered bore, a bore through said iow bean, said bore being fiared outwardly'from an intermediate point towards each end, an annular groove in the outer surface of said flow bean intermediate 'the length thereof, a resilient packing collar positioned in said groove, said collar normally being of greater diameter than the outside diameter of said flow bean, a collar integral with said body and surrounding the small end of said tapered body aperture, a reduced wrench engaging portion'on the small end of said plug, said Wrench engaging portion being confined within said collar, the inner face of said collar having a groove, a set screw on said plug, said set screw being positioned in said groove, the end walls of said groove limiting the movementof said set screw, said collar having aligned apertures, said wrench; engaging portion havifng an aperture, said last aperture in one position of said plug being adapted to align with said collar apertures and a padlock having a shackle positioned in said Wrench engaging portion and said collar apertures to lock said plug in a fixed position.

Inv testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signaure.

FRED A. NEMEC. 

